NPR’s Nina Totenberg Apologizes For Saying "Christmas"

“I want to say one thing about the budget that didn’t get passed, the omnibus bill. You know, we talk a lot about – we just passed this huge tax cut in part because business said, you know, we have to plan, we have to know what kind of tax cuts we have. Well, these agencies, including the Defense Department, don’t know how much money they’ve got and for what. And I was at – forgive the expression – a Christmas party at the Department of Justice and people actually were really worried about this,” NPR’s Totenberg said on PBS this weekend.

An ironic dig at left-wing political correctness would be plausible if the reporter had a record of criticizing the Left or criticizing PC; or if she was a committed Christian; or if her news agency was known for being free of liberal bias.

But it's Nina Totenberg, working for NPR. She in particular and NPR in general have been regularly criticized for liberal and PC bias. That doesn't make her a bad reporter, just not the first person one would look to if one is expecting criticism of that worldview.

Interestingly, this news story was forwarded to me by some liberal Episcopalian friends of mine who are pretty bright people — they were certain she meant it literally (and were not impressed).

All that said, it is in fact possible she was objecting to the very antiChristian PC waters she swims in. It's a surprise to me, but it could be the case.

Publications

PZ’s Podcast

About

WHAT: Mockingbird seeks to connect the Christian faith with the realities of everyday life in fresh and down-to-earth ways.

WHY: Are we called Mockingbird? The name was inspired by the mockingbird’s peculiar gift for mimicking the cries of other birds. In a similar way, we seek to repeat the message we have heard – God’s word of grace and forgiveness.

HOW: Via every medium available! At present this includes (but is not limited to) a daily weblog, weekly podcasts, a quarterly print magazine, semi-annual conferences, and an ongoing publications initiative.

WHO: At present, we employ three full-time staff, David Zahl, Ethan Richardson and CJ Green, and four part-time, Sarah Condon, Bryan Jarrell, Margaret Pope and Marcy Hooker. They are helped and supported by a large number of contributing volunteers and writers. Our board of directors is chaired by The Rev. Aaron Zimmerman.

WHERE: Our offices are located at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlottesville, VA.

WHEN: Mockingbird was incorporated in June 2007 and is currently in its 11th year of operation.

Online Giving

The work of Mockingbird is made possible by the gifts of private donors and churches. Our fundraising burden for 2017 is roughly $290,000, and with virtually no overhead, your gifts translate directly into mission and ministry. Can you help? Please feel free to email us at info@mbird.com if you have any questions or would like more information.

As a convenience, we are set up to accept online donations via Paypal. This method will allow you to give with a credit card, in any amount you wish. Simply click on the button below and follow the instructions.